Yacolt man back in jail after skipping a court date

A 19-year-old Yacolt man accused of assaulting an acquaintance June 23 at a Battle Ground gas station was sent back to jail Wednesday for not showing up at a mandatory Nov. 27 hearing before his trial.

Joseph A. “Joey” Mitchell pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a bail

jumping charge related to his absence at the hearing.

Mitchell and his court-appointed attorney, Jack Peterson, declined to explain why Mitchell missed the court date.

His trial, originally slated for Monday, has been rescheduled for Jan. 13.

Clark County Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson revoked Mitchell’s previous $50,000 bail and set new bail at $50,000. It will be up to the bond company whether Mitchell may use credit from the revoked bond toward his new bond, said pretrial release officer Kirk Pressey.

The July 23 assault sent the 17-year-old victim to Portland’s Legacy Emanuel Medical Center with broken bones and a traumatic brain injury, according to court records.

Mitchell is accused of slamming the victim into a wall at a Chevron station at 16 N.W. 13th Ave. in Battle Ground and punching and kicking him until he was unconscious. The Columbian is not naming the victim because of family circumstances.

The assault happened soon after the suspect and the victim had attended a party near Fargher Lake, according to court documents.